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Ghida's journey is one of breaking barriers and overcoming challenges . After struggling to find a job due to a lack of experience, she joined LP4Y to develop her skills. In just three months, she transformed her future , securing a role as a Community Life Coach and inspiring excluded Youth. As a Coach, she witnessed young people breaking barriers every day overcoming personal struggles, gaining confidence, and shaping their futures. One of her proudest moments was helping a young woman who once feared being around others grow into a capable and compassionate teacher . Her story is a testament to perseverance , growth , and the impact of believing in oneself .

My name is Aye Myint Myat . I’m 25 years old and I’m from Myanmar. I’m a final-year student at West Yangon University in Yangon, but I recently stopped my university studies due to Myanmar's difficult situation. In 2021, there was a military coup in Myanmar, and now there is a lot of fighting. Many people have been hurt or killed, and many others have lost their homes. The economy is also struggling. Some places are still fighting, so it's not that stable. I am currently attending as a trainee at Life Project 4 Youth (LP4Y). Challenges I Faced: Economic Hardship, Societal Expectations, and Barriers to Education As a young woman, I have faced many challenges , including economic hardship , societal expectations , and barriers to education . In Myanmar, the economic situation has become increasingly difficult, with the rising cost of everyday essentials making it even harder for struggling families to afford basic needs. In society, traditional gender roles and expectations often limit girls' access to education and opportunities , with early marriage and childbearing still prevalent in some communities. Education itself remains a challenge, as many families cannot afford school fees, uniforms, and books making it especially difficult for me to pursue my studies. Before joining LP4Y, I honestly had no hope . I spent most of my time in my room. In 2020, when COVID-19 began, we had to stay home. Then, on February 1st, 2021, the military (Tatmadaw) seized power in Myanmar, and life became even more restricted. For 3 to 4 years, I barely went outside , couldn’t meet my friends, and spent most of my time on my phone. Sometimes, I helped my mom, but mostly, I felt stuck and unsure about my future. Starting from the COVID-19 year, I was living my life with no passion . Struggling Between Education and Career As a young woman, I struggled between pursuing my education and building a career. In my community, people often say that girls shouldn’t work , and they question how I can succeed without experience. At the same time, my relatives constantly ask me, " When will you finish university? When will you get married? ” These questions made me feel lost. I kept wondering should I continue my studies or start working? I didn’t know what path to take, and it left me feeling uncertain about my future. In Myanmar, with the country being unstable due to political issues, youths and all the people in Myanmar struggle a lot. Discovering LP4Y: A Light in the Darkness I heard about LP4Y from my brother, and I decided to join this program because I saw a light in this program that could get me out of my comfort zone and help me change my life. I want to be an independent woman . I want to be social and help other people in the community . I want to be a new version of myself . When I stepped into the program, at first, I was really nervous and excited . And I was also afraid that I couldn’t do this . I wasn’t sure if I could really get out of my comfort zone and communicate with new people, seeing new things. Or if I could fit into the program . And also, speaking English was a challenge for me . But I was really thrilled to step into the program. First Impressions: Welcoming Environment and Valuable Training My first impression of the program was that I was really happy to join it and get an offer like this. My first impression of this program is that I am really impressed with the Youths and Coaches' training. They’re really welcoming and nice. The training is super. I gained soft skills such as communication, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills that made me feel more empowered as a young woman. Yes, LP4Y helped me a lot, like communicating with new people, doing new things. Also, our Coaches said, Do what you love, do what you like And then I gained confidence , even when I met challenges. I dared to challenge myself . Proud Moments: Taking On Leadership Roles and Gaining Confidence There was a moment when I felt proud of myself as a woman. In January, I did community training as a trainer at Dala Community Center. The topic was “ Job Search ”. I also was the Master of Ceremony for the graduation ceremony and the Project Leader for the Event Team** and other small tasks. That’s when I felt confident and strong. Introducing LP4Y to the Community When we introduced LP4Y to the community, they thought it was really good. They wanted their sons or daughters to join the program. Some youths also wanted to join the program, and some were interested in visiting our center to learn more. Overall, they were really interested. Inspiring Role Models: Coach Bawk Pan NPyen There’s one Coach Bawk Pan NPyen, who inspired me a lot as a woman. She is a motivational and active person who worked in the women's empowerment sector. During her training, she shared her experiences with us, " How to overcome gender discrimination from conservative families to achieve our dream jobs ." She also provided valuable information about women's rights and gave me advice that kept me motivated. Advice to Young Women: Never Give Up I would like to give advice to other young women who face obstacles or lack opportunities . Never give up! Don’t lose hope. We’re here with you! Yes, I have talked about LP4Y to other women, my friends, and my community. Understanding Women’s Empowerment From my perspective, women's empowerment is making women powerful and capable of making decisions for themselves . Women have suffered a lot through the years at the hands of men. In earlier centuries, they were treated as almost non-existent . Rights belonged to men, even something as basic as voting. After I joined LP4Y, women’s empowerment became real for me . It's not just abstract equality; it's about helping women discover their strengths , build confidence, and support each other to achieve our dreams, big or small. My Future Goals My goals for the future are to share my knowledge , get a decent job in business and education, and I would like to travel around the world . For me, I hope to contribute to women's rights and equality by providing information and resources about the issues that women face and by raising awareness about the importance of gender equality. I also want to connect women with organizations and resources that can help them to achieve their goals. Final Words: Empowerment, Support, and Unity Don’t feel like you are alone. We women are here for each other. Don’t think low about us. If we want to, we can be a mother, a wife, a worker, a businesswoman all at the same time. We can be whatever we want to be. So don’t hesitate to start new things as a woman. If I could describe my journey with LP4Y in one word related to empowerment, it would be " Transformative ."

Hi everyone! My name is Gen B. I am 24 years old, 10 years ago. Kidding! I am from the Queen City of the South and one of the beautiful islands of Cebu, in fact a paradise named Olango Island Lapu-lapu City Cebu. I have been part of this amazing association named LP4Y or Life Project 4 Youth since 2014 and it’s been 10 years now. I was one of the pioneering batches and was with probably more than ten coaches in the program. My Troubled Start My adventure began in 2014, when I was first arrested and charged with narcotics offenses. I never imagined my life would be so unhappy because I had so many friends back then, but I had no idea they were doing illegal things. As a result, I ended up in prison. When I was newly detained, I was 24 years old at that time. A foreigner drew my attention and piqued my interest in “why she was often around the jail”. Until I discovered she was working for an organization dedicated to Youth inclusion. I was hesitant to join the program at first, but after speaking with Coach Florence, I decided to do so. I did not pass up the opportunity to participate in the program because I was qualified . Overcoming Self-Doubt Before LP4Y, I had a lot of self-doubt . I graduated from a university, yet I lack self-confidence and had very low self-esteem . Because I did silly things during high school, I used to skip lessons and spend the entire day in a computer shop playing games rather than attending school and learning. Finding Hope Through Friends and LP4Y Through a friend named Dan, who is now a well-known tattoo artist and active star member in Cebu, I became acquainted with LP4Y. He filled me in on all the positive aspects of the program . From making jewelry to teaching English and general knowledge, and more importantly, having faith in your goals and reshaping yourself. Since then, I have learned a number of things that I know will help me live a more productive life, making my ambitions attainable in particular. Transforming Through Life Project Plans I was able to put the pieces of myself back together and dream for myself once more . Since I had the opportunity to transform and demonstrate that it was never too late to change and that the only thing constant in this world was change , I could argue that I was among the luckiest young people of that era. I could still clearly recall my coach and I doing my first LPP or Life Project Plan. My nerves were rattling since our coach challenged us to give a professional-style presentation, which meant memorizing our script and refraining from reading from spills. This I found quite difficult and demanding. Gaining Professionalism and Confidence In terms of professionalism, I can honestly state that LP4Y taught me a lot over my four years and eight months at the facility. From 2014 to 2018, I was greatly influenced by the tools required to equip and improve myself.  Life After Release I was released in 2018 and given the opportunity to prove myself. I was really grateful to my supporting coaches at that moment, who ensured I would be in a better situation and able to find a good and decent job. I was really moved by what the coaches did for me. They provided financial assistance as well as moral support. They also helped me develop a great sense of self-confidence and motivation. The unfortunate part is that I experienced discrimination from my friends as a prisoner, which was exacerbated when discrimination came from my family . This made me sad and weak, but I knew I needed to prove to them and to myself that I am capable of being a better version of myself and a good and responsible person in my community. So they could be proud of me. A Proud Career Achievement Proving myself capable of working in one of the country's largest BPO companies like TP or Teleperformance was a proud moment for a former PDL. I assumed that if I merely had a good job, I'd be able to live a nice life. But I discovered that being a professional implies a lot of obligations and headaches . LP4Y made a significant impact in my life in the correctional institution. That is why, even though I already had a job, I made time to volunteer by teaching English to MyCraft's youth during my free time or rest days. Representing Cebu Stars I was voted president of the Cebu Stars and represented Stars Cebu in the 2018 Stars Gala. It was a truly spectacular and unforgettable event that I will cherish for the rest of my life. I met all of the Coaches, Catalysts, and Partners of LP4Y. I was on cloud nine with the euphoria I felt that night, and I could never have imagined this would happen in my life. Balancing Work and Life Goals My life was focused on work, my family, and LP4Y. I really had one goal : to achieve my dream or LPP, which is to be an English teacher . During weekdays, I worked four days of 11-hour shifts, leaving three days for rest. But honestly, work days were draining. High pay entailed working extremely hard. Despite these challenges, I was confident in overcoming hurdles posed by work, family, and peers. Acts of Compassion With all the grace and beautiful things that have transpired in my life, I tried to do more good, particularly for my co-inmates in Abuyog, Leyte. I came up with a simple act of compassion : every payday, I bought groceries worth 500 PHP and sent them to my co-inmates via LBC forwarding. It was a small gesture, but I knew it would be extremely beneficial . I believe it is the thought that matters. A Setback and Resilience Unfortunately, in 2021, I was unlawfully arrested for the second time. While on my way to Olango Island for a celebration, I encountered a setup by someone I thought was trustworthy. My entire self was broken for the second time, but fortunately not as badly as the first. With LP4Y’s support , I regained the strength I needed to get back on track . Staying Hopeful Currently, I am still in the Male Dormitory facility of the Lapu-lapu City Jail. It's been 3 years and 5 months of being hopefu l. Why am I saying hopeful? Because I believe everything happens for a reason . God will never give me such a difficulty if He knows I am incapable of solving it on my own. Serving as a Leader Now I am the newly elected Stars President for the year 2024-2025. Previously, I served as the Stars Digital Ambassador. I look forward to learning more and sharing what I learn . Action speaks louder than words , so if you want to help , do so in words as well as in deed. Holding on to My Dream As part of my Life Project Plan (LPP), I hope to become a teacher. It is the same dream I had ten years ago, and I am sticking to it because I believe I can achieve it. Practicing and developing my teaching skills at the center has been fulfilling. Through challenges, I have built resilience, strengthening my determination to succeed . Soon, if ever released, I see myself working as a catalyst specifically a “Stars Catalyst” One of my great realizations in this second adventure was that Life is not just about money, but happiness truly matters.

The Youth, Stars, Catalysts and LP4Y partners are the Voices of LP4Y, through inspiring testimonies, they tell us their stories. The Youth, Stars, Catalysts and LP4Y partners are the Voices of LP4Y, through inspiring testimonies, they tell us their stories . Each month receive LP4Y's newsletter with a preview of the most inspiring stories and set foot on the ground alongside the Young adults. SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER Looking for a specific story? CATALYSTS INITIATIVES LIFE PROJECT MEI & PROFESSIONAL WORLD PARTNERS VIDEOS WOMEN EMPOWERMENT Latest LP4Y stories 7 hours ago Transforming My Future: A Young Woman’s Journey of Resilience and Empowerment My name is Aye Myint Myat . I’m 25 years old and I’m from Myanmar. I’m a final-year student at West Yangon University in Yangon, but I... 4 days ago Resilience in Action: Gen B's Journey from Prison to Leadership with LP4Y Hi everyone! My name is Gen B. I am 24 years old, 10 years ago. Kidding! I am from the Queen City of the South and one of the beautiful... Jan 30 Empowering Change: LP4Y Jakarta's End-of-Year Breakfast On December 5th, 2024 Life Project 4 Youth (LP4Y) Jakarta held its End-of-Year Breakfast at Training Development Center (TDC) Jakarta,... Jan 20 Sherlyn Caasi: From weakness to vigorous strength I’m part of a big family from West Central Luzon in the Philippines. Both of my parents had their own families before they got married.... Life Project 4 Youth LP4Y is an international movement of local organisations specializing in the development of innovative solutions for the professional and social integration of excluded Youth living in extreme poverty. MORE ABOUT LP4Y 9,533 Accompanied Youth since 2009 73% Integrated Youth 18 Training & Development Centers 4 Green Villages 1,405 Youth trained in 2024 If you are part of LP4Y ecosystem and want to share your story, send them to lp4ystories@lp4y.org to be featured.

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